ELCS in 11 days time… having doubts

[PeeBeee]

Hey all!

After a failed induction, leading to an EMCS with my first, I was very happy with my choice of booking in for an ELCS IF I didn’t go into labour before that date (essentially avoiding an induction at all costs) and have it booked from 28 weeks, I am now nearly 38 weeks.

The past day or so, I have started taking a wobble with my choice, mainly as I have a 22 month old and DH is only off for 3 weeks (he started a new job whilst I was already pregnant so isn’t entitled to paternity so taking 3 weeks annual leave and no unpaid leave as I am just on smp and he pays the mortgage and all household bills etc)

I think it’s maybe come from panic as I felt horrendous after my EMCS and that was with no other children to look after so I am afraid of how I will cope with 2 under 2 if my wound doesn’t heal well and I am adamant I want to BF this time.

is it normal to have a wobble when due date is getting close? I am totally against induction and now I am thinking…. Should I go that route instead? My head is an absolute mess! I have been so emotional the past few days and yesterday I had diarrhoea 5 times so I am hoping I will go into labour on my own in the next few days but I know that’s highly doubtful😅

My ELCS was lovely.

Calm, positive, music on, such a happy day and went into it rested. Recovered beautifully.

I honestly can't imagine why anyone would put themselves through the alternative.

You'll be absolutely fine OP and you'll get to meet your beautiful baby soon. Congrats!

@Animallover87 thank you! I think I am just having ‘cold feet’ and my hormones are all over the place. It’s silly as I could go down the VBAC route and have an even worse recovery or end up in an emcs again and I just couldn’t deal with that again!

I had an emcs first time round, my recovery was awful. Elective second time round and I was waiting for the slump, but it never came. I felt great, everyone commented how great I was doing compared to last time. Sure it still aches but totally manageable.
My husband also took 3 weeks off and after a week at home, I was ready to go out portering. Enjoy it!

@TinselTarTars that is exactly what I needed to hear, thank you!! 🥰 I have my mum for support too if needed so I know I am being ridiculous! So over pregnancy hormones, bring the postpartum hormones now (even though in my opinion they are much worse😅)

Oh I was a bag of nerves before it, nervous poos for days beforehand but it was honestly lovely and so chilled. Loads of my mum friends have had planned ones too and feel the exact same as me. It's a totally different recovery from an emergency. I'd actually love to go back to the day DS was born and do it all again, never thought I'd say that about an operation 🤣

@Animallover87 thanks for sharing, thats so reassuring! My little sis has had 2 electives and she said to me a few days ago was i not scared of the epidural as she found it so sore. I said I literally haven’t thought about it as as I was in labour from the hormonal drip and baby was back to back that the epidural was the last thing on my mind, I was just relieved so now I am like ohh thanks, now you’ve made me realise I have all the time in the day to think about what is actually happening😂

I opted for an ELCS after a failure to progress EMCS. 2nd child had other ideas and I went into spontaneous labour [which I did the first time too but stopped dilating around 5cms and 2 days later we gave up. I'd had all the drugs by then and was exhausted]. The EMCS was uncomplicated and recovery was quick once I was past the first week of stomach/muscle pain.

Dilation went well ish second time around while I waited for "theatre to become available'. When it finally did, I was told I was a very short time away from a natural delivery [I'll admit I had felt a failure for the first time around] and I decided to keep going. DH is adamant I was "managed into it" and to this day is pissed off about it.
DC2 was born 3 hours [short time my arse] later, by forceps and a 2nd degree tear with extensive internal bruising. Only that she was a 6lbs baby do I think she was extracted from me and she was badly battered and bruised too, the sort of bruising that took 8 weeks to go...... it was still clearly evident when I took her in for her first vaccinations.

Birth notes from DC1 suggested narrow birth canal, inverted pelvis and all kinds of awkwardness for the midwives and obstetricians trying to figure out what was going on.

I couldn't sit down for about 12 weeks and walk any distance at all without a lot of internal discomfort for another couple of months.

If I had my choice again, I'd go for an EMCS. It's not risk free but it sounds like you have good support. Just don't overdo it.

PS.
Milk came in with DC2 almost immediately but she was too small and bruised to have much interest so ended up dropping too much weight and mix feeding again.

Felt great after both of my ELCS. Really easy recovery-up and down the stairs comfortably after two days etc! Really enjoyed both of them too! Had a lovely chat with the medical team and DP throughout lol x

@TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams thank you so much for sharing your experience and sorry you and your little one went through that! You have all convinced me that this is the right choice for me🥰

@eczemamummy thanks for sharing! I have to remember that this experience isn’t going to be like my last - 2 days in hospital with no sleep before emcs and another 2 days after with no sleep - going home as a ftm exhausted and thinking wtf have we done!🙈

@PeeBeee a full nights sleep and eye liner still perfectly in situ for the first baby pics

Yes! I look horrendous in the first family pics with my son, I was all sweaty and my hair looked awful, and no makeup as I was in too much pain from contractions to even think about putting makeup on before going into hospital.